Research has shown contradictory results on the relationship of infant attachment security to play and mastery behavior, at times predicting the cognitive quality of play and at other times predicting the affective quality of play. In order to test the hypotheses that, during play, attachment security would predict only positive affect,…

Not all fighting or aggression in young children is bad, and some kinds of teacher intervention may be beneficial. Play-fighting refers primarily to rough and tumble play and chasing, and several studies have shown that play and serious fighting can be clearly distinguished in young children. Numerous authors have pointed out the value and…

The Key School in Indianapolis, an experimental elementary school, was founded by eight experienced teachers who believed that schools can be enjoyable as well as rigorous. This report focuses on one feature of the school, the Flow Activities Room (FAR). The development of the FAR was based on the school's commitment to the theories of multiple…

Ways by which teachers can enhance creativity skills of children in the classroom are addressed in this monograph. An overview of creativity first sets the stage for discussions on the child, curriculum, teacher, and environment. The goal is to show the many faces of the development of creativity in children and to recognize ways to enhance the…

This literature review explores the phenomenon of dysmathematics and problems in its definition. Dysmathematics is suggested as a modern term for low achievement in mathematics. This document addresses: (1) concomitant variables associated with dysmathematics; (2) mathematical characteristics of dysmathematicians; (3) diagnosis and prescription…

This practicum aimed to decrease the social isolation of preschool children with special needs in a mainstreamed day care setting by: (1) increasing initiatives by typical children towards four special needs children; (2) increasing social bids or responses by special needs children toward typical children; and (3) increasing positive…

Under the guidance of alert adults, young children can develop new understandings, learn valuable skills, and acquire positive attitudes toward life and learning by taking part in activities in the kitchen. This book provides ideas that parents and parent surrogates can use to provide experiences in the kitchen that will contribute to children's…

The development of and relationship between early language, symbolic play, sensorimotor skills, and social development were examined in a longitudinal study conducted in Japan with two young autistic males who were observed from the approximate ages of 2 to 4 years in clinic, day care, and home settings. One child acquired speech; the other did…

This illustrated guide for designing and building children's playgrounds opens with a definition of "play space" as a joyful, safe, healthy environment which builds strong bodies and develops emotional stability. Section 1, "Why Play Spaces Are Needed," includes some observations about children's developmental needs and how those needs are being…

A second language program developed at Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) with a federal grant uses the Rassias Method of theatrical, dramatic language saturation. In the first application of the program at the college, peer tutors (who would be assistant teachers in the subsequent immersion program) were trained in a three-day workshop.…

The major purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between play complexity, occupational preference, and perceived self-competence. A second focus was to examine these variables in terms of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). Two age groups (200 third graders and 206 sixth graders) participated in the initial part of the…

Synergistic psychology has been proposed as a meta theory for synthesizing different psychological theories into an explanation of how social, cognitive, and biological factors interact in human behavior. The basic theoretical assumption in synergistic psychology is that internalized social interactions become higher mental functions that regulate…

Providing basic reference materials, this issue of "Children in the Tropics" consists of a revised and completed version of the 1982 issue on the development of children from birth to 6 years of age. Contents present a broad picture of the physical and mental development of children under 6 and formulate a number of recommendations about…

To determine if there are common factors which all teachers of Hispanic children should be acquainted with in order to facilitate the education of Hispanics, a study was conducted of 4 Hispanic groups (25 Mexican Americans, 23 Puerto Ricans, 20 Cubans, and 17 Venezuelans). Eighty-five families, together with their children ranging in age from 4-60…

The concept for the piloting of a contemporary early childhood kindergarten in China was visualised by the chief executive officer of TMC Academy, Dr Chin, in July 2002 when he participated in a Singaporean-led mission to Liaoning Province in China. Shenyang Creative Kindergarten is the result of that concept. It opened for children in September…